Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

~U\Jlf8EK~WD~W Cycle News Rider of the Year: Ricky Carmichael What was it like dealing with the incredible hype going into the 2005 Supercross Series? A lot of hype it was. That's why it was so important to me to win the title, no matter who was in there. I think I won one of the most hyped-up seasons in a long time. It was a great deal for me, not only to do that, but to win after sitting out a year, on a new bike, and on a team that many said supposedly couldn't get it done. The horrendous conditions at Anaheim I ended up being a good thing for you. Me and M.e. Ueremy McGrath) were sitting on the podium for opening ceremonies, and I said, "Man, it's going to be nasty one." "Yeah," he said. "I'm kind of glad it rained, kind of settled everyone down." I didn't want to say it, but I felt the same way he did. Man, there was so much hype, everybody's basing it all on Anaheim I. And it's not all about Anaheim I - it's about the last man standing in Vegas. But that's part of sports. I don't think it's really like that in other sports - they're looking for longevity. I think people put too much emphasis in one race. But it was amazing; all a lot of hype. The '05 Supercross Series started off in your favor. It started off great in Anaheim. I mean, considering what happened to me and my falls. I'm happy with what When you signed with Suzuki, did you feel more pressure to perform than usual? I did. It was a lot of pressure and I was a little nervous, but once I [put) my name on the contract, Ifelt - not so much pressure being with Suzuki - but I felt the pressure of trying to win again. Suzuki Itself probably felt more pressure to win than you did. After all, things didn't go well the last time they signed a superstar, Jeremy McGrath, at the peak of one's career. Absolutely. I think that most of the pressure was on them, because Icame off a great season prior to this year, winning 24-0 on the 450 [Honda), so I think they had a lot of pressure on them. Me, I knew what I was capable of; I think they were just hoping for the best. I believe they had all the pressure; they had to hold a high standard. [But) they really came to the plate. I can't say enough of the team. Obviously, I knew they had a pretty good program or I would not have even considered being there. They came together with a good fourstroke that was brand new this year, and to do as well as I did this year, that says a lot for the bike and the team, not just me. They came with some great parts. Did the pressure shoot up a notch or two when the bike broke, in your first race on the Suzuki, at the U.S. Open? I think that when the bike did break, I was actually just superpumped on my [Suzuki) deal, the weekend, and how it went. I felt that we were really close. Two days later, we went out testing and made the bike way better, and that's basically what I raced with [all season) two days after the Open. It was a great weekend regardless of the outcome. I really felt that I showed some speed, got guys on their toes - it was the closest I 26 JANUARY 4,2006 • CYCLE NEWS had been to Chad [Reed) since '03 in Supercross, and I was happy, of course. Then I did the World rounds, and that was good for me, because I got to actually race the Suzuki on a real Supercross traCK and really kind of figure it out and how it would do on a regular track. Was - and Is - Suzuki receptive to your needs when it comes to making changes to the bike? Absolutely, whatever I need, they'll change it. Did those changes make it on to the '06 production bikes? It was funny, we were testing on the two-stroke last year, and a lot of the things were applied to the '06 twostroke - a lot of my race stuff on my race bike went to the new bike, it was great. Anytime I got a new part, production wanted it. Usually it takes a while for changes to make It onto the production bikes. That's what it seemed like with the other two manufacturers I rode for; it always seemed to be delayed. They [Suzuki) are on the ball. I got. Everybody said, "Oh, man, you could've won." The hell with could've won - I'm just happy I got on the podium [third), because I don't claim to be a mud rider. I was pumped. Were you surprised by how good of a start you had on the series? I wasn't expecting that at all, I just wanted to be on the podium every weekend. There was no way, I figured, I could win seven races - maybe it was six races I never thought that I could've done that, especially with all the competition. It was awesome. Considering how deep this year's field was, did that make winning this year's Supercross Series any more special? There were four guys that had a great chance to win the series, or at least win races. It was tough. I think the biggest thing that changed now, from when I raced Jeremy was, I think me and Jeremy were the strongest guys for 16 races, at least he had been all the way up to '0 I, the year that Iwas able to beat him. Me and him were a level above everybody else. Now, Ithink that everybody

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